By Sami Zaptia
Tripoli, 21 August 2013:
Prime Minister Ali Zeidan denied allegations that he had accused the GNC of interfering in, and . . .[restrict]hindering the running of his government’s affairs.
Zeidan had been summoned by the GNC, together with a number of his Ministers, to defend the performance of his government in general and in particular to reply to allegations by his former Interior Minister that he was dictatorial in his running of his government. He was also asked to explain the latest security situation.
In response to the allegation that he had accused the GNC of interference, Zeidan stated that all he had said was that he wished that the GNC would allow him more flexibility when it came to shifting money from one section to another within the approved budget.
With regards to GNC members Zeidan said that he had hoped to be on an understanding and a consultative level with them. He regarded them as his consultants with regards to the areas they represent, he added.
The Minister of Communications and Transport, answering GNC questions at the same session for his part confirmed that the government was“working in harmony and homogeneity” and that whilst at times Ministers “may not agree on some decisions”, he nevertheless felt that he had as a Minister all the full powers to act.
In fact the Minister went so far as to admit that he often exceeded his powers “because of the exceptional circumstances” Libya was going through.
The Labor Minister also weighed in saying that “the stage requires that harmony between the Congress and the government continues”.
With regards to the accusation by former Interior Minister Sheikh that Zeidan went over his head using his Deputy Ministers, current Deputy Minister Abdulbasit Buhliga said that he thought the former Interior Minister was referring to him and that the former Interior Minister’s accusations were not true.
Further, he confessed that he had complained to the Prime Minister that their boss had not met with his Deputies and managers and that the first such meeting was on Sheik’s day of resignation
Zeidan also added that the reasons former Interior Minister Shuwail had resigned were not the same reasons Sheikh had resigned for.
On the issue of faulty oil metres and accusations of the illegal sales of Libya’s oil, the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation assured the GNC of the absence of any theft of oil.
Moreover he assured the GNC that upon the first appearance of such accusations, he had sent a report to the Prosecutor General to investigate these accusations. The report was to investigate both those who had allegedly stolen oil and to investigate those who might have wrongfully made such accusations.
With regards to the long awaited subsidy reform, Zeidan informed the GNC that he would be presenting his plans to substitute subsidized goods for cash to the GNC on 31 August. [/restrict]
